3 ‘Perks’ to Ask for During Your Next Review

More money is always nice, but it’s not the be-all and end-all.By Judy Giannetto | Digital Exclusive

If the raise you’re after simply isn’t in the cards, think about asking for a couple of these non-salary-based perks instead.

One: Supercharge Your Skills Set

This one is key. Enhanced skills training is a win-win for both you and your employer. Look into continuing education classes, conferences and seminars. Webinars are a convenient, low-cost option, and you don’t have to leave your office or desk to take them. In fact, on-demand education and training is the name of the game, meaning that you can take classes anywhere, anytime, and in just the way you want them.

Oh, and if training sounds a bit dry and unexciting, think a little outside the box. Depending on your clients and customers, perhaps your organization will see the benefit of staff learning a second or third language, or learning all about international negotiations. Really, the world’s your oyster.

Two: A Little Flexibility Please

Flextime is becoming more the norm than the exception these days, so you definitely won’t be shooting for the moon by asking to, say, come in early and leave in the late afternoon instead of early evening, or work longer hours Monday through Thursday or Tuesday through Friday in exchange for a three-day weekend.

Along the same lines, perhaps you can negotiate to work from home one or two days a week in order to skip the long commute and avoid all the office hubbub. If your employers have their eyes on the prize—namely, work product—and you have a track record as a trusted employee, then a “yes” to your request is a strong possibility.

Three: An All-Around Better Job

…Which is different than a job promotion. There are a number of ways you can make your job more satisfying. For one, ask for that job assignment you really want—the one that will expose you to new skills, experiences and people, and even, perhaps, new locales. And what about your job title? If you can tweak it to better represent what it is that you do, and make yourself stand out from the crowd while you’re at it, then why not ask for it?

On a more practical level, think about negotiating for tools that will boost your productivity, helping both you and your organization—maybe a more spacious workstation, ergonomic office furniture, a second monitor, or those much-longed-for software/hardware upgrades.

You don’t have to get stuck in a rut if the funds simply aren’t there to give you the raise you’d really, really like. The world, unfortunately, isn’t perfect. But ask for perks that benefit not only you, but also your employer, and you have the chance to achieve a more satisfying job and a more successful you.